It's been ages...

Certainly been some time since I added anything to my wee blog, had even forgotten the password!  I met my friend Donna recently at our local craft shop two day event.  She and her crafting buddies have created a new blog The Sisters of Craft blogspot  (http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/ ) where us fellow crafters can post our creations and inspire each other.  Our chat reminded me that a) my blog has been forgotten about!, b) I really should be crafting and posting and c) blogs are crammed of beautiful cards and brimming of inspiration ... Here is my addition to the "Anything Goes" challenge....          Thanks Donna

What I bought today (Thanks Craftworld and The Hobby House)...

Hi
I know ages since last post, absolutely no excuses!
I went along to my favourite local craft shop (Craft World) and must admit I am totally spoiled with all the different goodies that I am tempted to buy (they think of everything).  I adore The Hobby House toppers, flowers, ribbons, gems, stamps, of the short version - everything they have on offer! 

At the checkout in Craft World they had THE box of absolute Hobby House delight, a complete box with all the contents (OMG) to make 12 of the most beautiful cards, I had to take this home with me.  Have a look here, you too will understand.  I know what I will be doing on my Bank Holiday weekend, watch this space so you share too!

March already...

Well, another quick month gone by.  Bethany and I looking forward to the Hobbycrafts and the SECC next weekend, definitely making time to see Barbara Gray at Clarity Stamps.  Would be nice if Create and Craft made an appearance, feel a bit neglected here in Scotland by the big companies, wonder if anyone agrees...?

February already....

Been ages since I updated blog, so taking a chance to do that today!  This is a card made by 13 year old Bethany using the Me To You kit, the colours are just lovely, sadly the Glamour Dust glitter doesn't show so well in the photograph as she has used this over the flowers and also highlighted the pink butterfly on the backing paper.  She also used two different size of diamante gems to highlight the corners and the picture and sentiment.  Our local craft shop was having a competion asking entries to use Spellbinders, unfortunately, I don't have a huge number of Spellbinders so we used what was to hand, happy with the end result! I would also like to enter Bethany's card in the following challenges as well...

Ladybugcraftsink Challenge - pink + ?
Divas by Design Challenge - Love and Romance
Wags'nwhiskers Challenge - Love
Pink Gem Challenge Blog  - Dies and Punches
The Squirrel and The Fox - Love

If you have time, all comments welcome.  Thanks for looking...

Ladybugink challenge...

Well, another few months gone, and dark nights arrived! Went along to the SECC Hobbycrafts at the weekend, wasn't quite as busy as past years, but always nice to see the exhibitors coming to Glasgow, thought noticeably less than past years, quite disappointed that the larger crafting retailers didn't attend Glasgow, Create & Craft, QVC, Little Claire, Glitter Girls to name a few - Crafters Companion only had a stall selling a minute amount of their products, no demos, wee shame - but thanks to the retailers who did make the effort, much appreciated.
I went along with my friend's daughter, Bethany, who is 13, and a very talented crafter. She had been asked to make a retirement card (see she is even receiving requests!!) - she wished this to be pink and sparkly, and here it is, Kerry's  Ladybugcraftskink Nikki Flowers for You stamp was ideal.  I love this stamp and it is perfect for many different occasions. 

This card is entered into the current ladybugcraftsink challenge - requirements being "P" - so she has used Pink Patterned Card, Promarkers, Petals, Pink Ribbon and Polka Dots...be nice if you could leave a comment for her...
Happy crafting....

Have a look...

Hi there,
Yet again time flying by, can hardly believe that August is almost over!  I was having a wee bloghop earlier tonight and the talented Bev Rochester has some candy to give away, just leave your name and email address (http://bevscrafts.blogspot.co.uk/).  She has also asked if anyone would like to send a card to Alana, a lovely wee 9 year old who has been diagnosed with leukaemia.  I am sure each card will brighten a wee girl's day...

I bought some of the new Hobbyhouse toppers (http://www.thehobbyhouse.co.uk/ ) today and thrilled with them..Their products are fantastic and so modern and best of all, so reasonable to buy.  They have toppers, stamps, ribbons, flowers, papers...everything all in the one place and colours that complement each other.  have a look, you will not be disappointed.

My friend's son's birthday tomorrow and made a Tatty Ted card for his tonight.  Will post a picture later.  Happy crafting everyone...

Ladybugcraftsink - Half Price Cling Stamp Sale....

Hi there
I have just noticed that Ladybugcraftsink are having a half price sale of their cling stamps!  Well worth a look.  These polymer stamps are well made and stamp beautifully every time.  I have acquired quite a collection of these and love them, Nikki and Friends being my favourite, following by the Christmas stamps.  Wee buttercup dog  in the snow was used on most of my Christmas cards last year, glamour dusted to the limit!!
Kerry, who runs the company, also runs a Ladybugcrafts ink fortnightly challenge, new one starting tomorrow morning.....

July - and still awaiting summer...

Well, still awaiting summer! Garden full of buttercups, and are they huge, I don't think I have ever seen buttercups so high.  Anyway, moan over, back to crafting and would like to enter this card I have made in some challenges.  I love these new Hobby House toppers, and gave in and bought the new ones yesterday at my local Craftworld shop, they never disappoint with having the new things, they really do spoil us! 
I have used - Hobby House "Roses Bike Ride" topper by Sylvia Zet, Bazzil paper, Wild Rose Studio green leaf paper, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, Craftwork Cards Sentimes, and Glamour Dust (used all over the topper but not come up in the photo!!).

I would like to enter this into...
Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - two of something (wheels and cream flowers)
Pixie Dust Studios Challenges - Travel (Bicycle)
Bearly Mine Challenges - Anything Goes
That Craft Place Challenge Blog - It's All Green (Green)
The Poodles Parlour - Cute and/or Cuddly (Cute)
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blogspot - Summer Daze (summer fun)

Thanks for looking, and if you have time have a look at the new Sylvia Zet toppers, I'm going to have loads of fun with them....

The Hobby House - wee stamp toppers....

Hi there

Just a quick post, the fabulous Hobby House have a new set of toppers based on Sylvia Zet's wonderful characters, I absolutely adore her toppers and the new set and even more stunning.  Take a quick look, and a cost of £1.75 they are worth every penny.....

Challenges for this week...

Hi there
Managed to find time today to have a look at my favourite blogs and had noticed the Ladybugcraftsink challenge ends this week, just seems like yesterday that it was posted, and that was two weeks ago!  Thought I would enter this card, like the colour as unusual colours for me.  I have used one of the Crafters Companion stamps, part of the S.W.A.L.K range, they are fabulous and stamp beautifully.  Yet again, my photographs do not do justice, I have added some glossy accents on to the green middle of the patterned paper, not very clear to see., and some Glamour dust on the flowers (always Glamour dust somewhere - thanks Kerry for the tip a few years ago)...  Oh, definitely typed this too late, actually forgot to link it with the Ladybugcrafts ink challenge blog and missed the deadline, doh!!!

I am entering this into the following challenges:-
Ladybugcraftsink Challenge blogspot - Big Birthday
Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - Embellishments

AWOL Crafter

Hi there, sorry for not being a consistent crafter!  No excuses, although I have been making cards and giving them away, I have taken some photos and will upload later today.

I thought I would mention that each weekend, the fabulous Bev Rochester (All the things I Love) blogspot makes available a chance for us crafters to win some free candy, no challenge is given, just add your name and email address to the linky box, super easy and quick.  Bev is a marvel, I absolutely adore her talent and find myself picking up a crafting magazine if I see her included in it!

Go on, have a look.....

Bev Rochester - Candy

Hi there,

Amazing, two posts in one week! Just thought I would mention that the brilliant Bev Rochester has some candy to give away, she normally has a giveaway each weekend, so why not head over to her absolutely brilliant, fantastic blog and leave your detail for a chance to win, this is not a challenge blog, so everyone has a chance to win by leaving their details....All The Things I love blog (Bev Rochester).

Been busy...

Hi there, been busy recently and also now getting to grips with the new blogger set-up, like anything else, a wee bit of thinking time always helps, so hopefully the photos etc will upload as planned.  I have this card for a work colleague, I seen the idea by Marion Emberson and thought I would have  a go.  The photo doesn't really show the white embossing swirls so well, but the real thing looked nice, and colleague loved it!

My local craft shop Craftworld is having a two day demo weekend this weekend, so looking forward to going along and hopefully picking up some new techniques.  They are an independent shop and spoil us customers with some brilliant craft classes taken by Karen, the most helpful staff, full of knowledge and so friendly to the customers.  Definitely the meaning of the "personal touch", they always make you welcome and June, if you are reading this, thank you for my lovely handmade calendar, sitting pride of place in the livingroom!

My friend Linda has been updating her new blog,  Linda's Crafting Blog maybe have a look and and let her know what you think...

Hello again...

Apologies again for taking a while to post, this new blogger set-up will take a bit of getting used to.  Unsure now how to upload photos or even amend my home page now, so bear with me...

I have been recently been making a few cards, and will upload these later today, ( if I can fathom how to), I hope the photos are acceptable as I have since made and given the cards away!
On another note, I have always enjoyed blog hopping, so, so, many talented folk out there - let you into a secret - I think I spend more time looking all those fabulous creations than actually attempting to make them!

One of the sites I came across is Simply Me - Cards and Papercrafts by Hazel Conboy, (http://hazelspapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/), she has some fabulous candy on offer from The Hobby House, their goodies are brill, so why not take a few minutes to pop over to Hazel's blog and have a look at what she has been up to and also a chance to win some candy, thanks Hazel.

Well, hope all you fellow bloggers are happy crafting out there, oh, and just a note that my good friend, Linda, has started her own blog.  She has been cardmaking for some time now and passes a lot of her cards to charities, so it would be great if you could pop over to her blog (Linda's crafting blog) and leave some comments.

Bye for now,

Anne

Cute House-Mouse (and cat....)

Well another quick week has flown by, glad to say I managed one crafting day this week, so that was good.  My friend Bethany came by unexpectantly yesterday and as I was grounded waiting on the Sky Engineer, we crafted, it was nice.  Downside, we forgot to photograph her lovely card for her friend!  I have made this calendar for my friend, who like myself, like cats.  I have just purchased the House-mouse stamps and loved the playful cat with the mice, purrfect!



I would like to enter this to the following challenges.....
Stampacular Sunday Challenge - Diamonds or Pearls
Dream Valley Challenges - Animals
My Sheri Crafts Challenge - Something New
Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Gems (until 1/2/12)
Moving Along With The Times - Blooming Marvellous (until 1/2/12)
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - Animals (until 3/2/12)

Thanks for all the crafty challenges that are out there in blogland, I love taking time to look at them,but have to say there are many talented folk out there!

First blog of this year...Me to You

Hi there, finding it unbelievable that I have not posted since November, where does the time go I ask?  I have had a wee bit of free time and make a few lovely cards, however, they seem to be made and away just as quick.  I have taken a few pics so will make time at the weekend to upload them, they are not great, as I am not the most experienced, comparing to such wonderful creations I see on other blogs, but I enjoy it, and hopefully the recipients do as well.  A friend turned 40 recently and I made a nice card for her, using a free stamp on the reverse of the card (free with a magazine).  It was Humphrey's Corner stamps, but a wee stamp, set out in a circular fashion says "handmade just for you" and I had put that on the back of the card.  She smiled today and thanked me for the card, I felt quite pleased she liked it.  I said I hadn't put 40 on it as unsure how she felt about it, the penny dropped then, she saying she had noticed the handmade just for you stamp on the reverse of the card and when I mentioned omitting the 40 age,she smiled and asked if I had made the card, she seems really chuffed.  Debbie works in my favourite cafe which I sometimes haunt on a Satuday and she is such a great lady, on the ball constantly, and still finds time to smile and chat to the customers too.  Like the chance of a chill out Saturday,go to the coffee shop in the morning and then head to Craft World aferwards, perfect!
I hope I haven't gone on too much.  I hope everyone is well and survived the festive season, at least it wasn't so cold last year, but weather looking unpredicable for the rest of the week!

I would like to enter into a few challenges this week.

I love the colours of this pack, and worth every penny as the kit has borders, toppers, papers, sentiments and decoupage, it has everything and loads of possibiliies.  I used Glamour Dust glitter on the brolly, picks it up lovely, but not so clear on the photograph.
I am entering this card into the following blogs:

Ladybugcraftsink TLT Challenge - Bows
Truly Madly Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me Challenges - Pink and Sparkly
Colour Create Challenge - Pink and Green

Challenges...

Another fast week has gone by and it is Sunday again!  I have entered this card in the following challenges.  I have used one of my favourite Ladybugcraftsink Ruby stamps, this one can be used for almost any occasion, just add the "I am thinking of you..." and you can chose the occasion.  I liked the idea of Christmas and have coloured Ruby in promarker pens, chalked around the edges, and used a lovely Docrafts snowflake vellum.  I glittered snowflakes on to plain vellum and used a snowflake punch to cut them, finally adding red gems in the centre.

Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - fairies
CES Challenges  -  snowflakes
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - snowflakes
Creatalicious Challenges - Christmas and make sure it sparkles
Flutterbywednesdays - open but use a fairy, butterfly or angel
Moving along with the times - snow
2 Sisters - Let it Sparkle
Wags'n'Whiskers Rubber Stamps - Christmas Themed

Thank you to the above blogs for offering challenges and taking time to allow us fellow crafters to have more fun!

Some Challenges

I have been making a few cards recently,what with the dark nights here and my crafting goodies from the recent Hobbycrafts at the SECC.  Taking photos in the dark nights are not so easy to achieve though.  This card is a lovely rich pink colour and the ribbon a rich dark pink, not the purple shade in the photo!  I love these stamps, they came free with a crafting magazine recently and have been used many times.  I have entered in the following challenges:-
Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - love and marriage and anything goes (as well as a bloghop too)

Ladybugcraftsink Blog Hop - have a look...

Well then, the SECC Hobbycrafts came and went, whoosh!  I had the full day on the Friday to browse, all by myself, although bumping in to many crafting friends along the way!  On the Saturday, my bruised feel and aching back returned with my favourite wee 12 year old, Bethany, we had a great day.  The hall got a bit busy at one point and the wee soul was getting a bit crushed, we disappeared for lunch and then back again for round two!  She bought the inkylicious brushes (so did I) and had some fun with these and her new inks on Saturday night, George Bowie's GB Experience on Clyde 1 (dance music) and crafting, we had a great old time!  Unbelievably, I headed back again on the Sunday and met up with one of my most precious friends and her daughter, my friend had been critically ill earlier this year, and thank God has made it through, she is still very weak, and on dialysis 3 times a week, also now a wheelchair user, but my goodness, she looked brilliant.Keep getting stronger, Myra.  I taught her to cross-stitch years ago and she has not as yet moved over the the papercrafting yet, but I am working on it!.....

I am unsure about fellow crafters, but I was a bit disappointed with the exhibitors who were able to attend this year, no Create and Craft, Kameo Cards, and the larger well known companies, their familiar faces were missing, Crafters Companion, Debbi Moore (without Debbi), Glitter Girls to name a few. The lovely Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamps was great, always friendly and so full of enthusiasm, a real gem.  I felt the NEC was the winner and Scotland was left a bit deserted, just my opinion though.  A wee thought, my local independent craft shop, Craftworld in Hillington, they managed to provide continuous demos and a selection of great products at the SECC, and also attended the NEC too, well done to them!

Sorry for prattling on, just a note to say that I have stopped playing with my goodies I purchased and managed to get to update my blog.  I pleased to see that Kerry from Ladybugcraftsink (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e )  has a blog hop starting tomorrow, and if you have time, take a look - her DT team always seem to make such beautiful cards each week, worth making one of your favourite blogs.  A weekly challenge is also held each Tuesday as well!  Kerry has a beautiful selection of stamps (http://www.ladybugcraftsink.co.uk/christmas-30-c.asp ) to purchase, both in high quality polymer and also more recently, images being available in digital format as well.

Hope you are all warm and cosy crafting on this cold foggy evening, Christmas is coming......

Just over a week to go the the October SECC

Well, time is flying by - the Hobbycrafts and Creative Stitches shows are almost here, just over a week to do and I can't wait!  It seems ages since the last event at the SECC at the beginning of March, too long a gap until the next event at the end of October, I think the organisers show even this up, one every six months,  I have had a look at the exhibitors and pleased to see Stephanie will there, my absolute favourite, Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamps and I have noticed Debbi Moore on the list, never seen Debbi in the flesh so hopefully that will be a nice experience.  Hopefully the favourite regulars will all return and the recession will not stop us all from meeting up agai